Egypt temporarily opens Rafah-Gaza border

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Egypt opened its Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip for three days.

The crossing opened Saturday, allowing 100 Palestinians seeking medical treatment, students and visa holders to leave Gaza, the French news agency AFP reported.

Some 5,000 Palestinians are expected to cross over in the next three days.

Egypt closed the Rafah border crossing after Hamas’ takeover of Gaza two years ago, but opens it occasionally.

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who was present for the opening, called the closing of the terminal two years ago "a mistake." He said "the suffering of Gaza residents is extreme — words cannot describe it."

Haniyeh said Hamas was ready to operate the crossing in conjunction with the Egyptians.